Off-the-Beaten-Path Puglia Discovery Tour

Known for its stunning coastlines and Baroque beauty, Puglia is an outstanding setting for your first day on your Southern Italy tour. After your flight arrives in Bari, a comfortable transfer will carry you along the coast. With panoramic views of the Adriatic on one side and medieval villages on the other, you may not even notice the time pass by before arriving at your final destination of Polignano a Mare. By the time you arrive, you will be well on your way to falling in love with this rustic corner of Italy. Upon arriving at your picturesque accommodation, you will have the remainder of the day to enjoy at your leisure.

Perched atop a rugged outcropping of rock, Polignano a Mare is an excellent ambassador of Puglia's close relationship with the sea. After enjoying a leisurely morning, you will be able to explore this relationship even better on a boat tour of this craggy coastline, during which you can enjoy some stunning views from the deck of a traditional Caicco. As you cruise the Apulian shores, the expert skipper will happily relate the maritime history of the region to you along with all the features of the mahogany-made sailing vessel. Before your cruise concludes, you will be able to enjoy some first-class aperitifs among this charming ambiance.

Dating back to Roman times, Puglia boasts an impressive array of ruins and artifacts. Today, you will be able to step into this past on a day trip beyond the walls of Polignano a Mare and to the adjacent community of Alberobello. It is here that you will witness the largest concentration of rural shelters known as the Trulli. UNESCO declared this region a world heritage site in 1994. Your day trip will include a visit to a boutique winery in Turi, where you can savor the product of centuries of tradition.

Part settlement and part farm, the Masseria of Puglia refers to the fortified farms that once served as the agricultural hubs of this region. These farms often included the landowner's main house and the outlying structures of the tenants who farmed the land. These used to be the standard farm structure for Southern Italian agriculture. Today, many of these sprawling facilities have been restored into picturesque attractions. A comfortable transfer will carry you to an authentic Masseria, where you can visit some of the oldest olive trees in the region before ending with a wine tasting experience.

After enjoying the fresh ingredients of breakfast, you will embark on an adventure to the nearby community of Gioia del Colle. Here, you will enjoy a guided tour of one of the town's principal exports, burrata. The special type of mozzarella cheese has received international recognition and will delight your tastebuds with its soft and creamy filling. You will culminate your day at the ancient town of Matera for a walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With half of its landmass jutting out into the water of the Mediterranean, Puglia has been a conspicuous landing point for many of the cultures and influences that have scoured the Mediterranean over the centuries. This has left the region with a distinct flavor and cosmopolitan history unlike anywhere else in the country. After enjoying an active exploration of this colorful region, you will be able to relax and take in the town of Polignano a Mare at your leisure.

Your final full day on this tour will ensure that no stone is left unturned in Puglia and that you are able to fully enjoy your visit. By heading out onto the Salentine Peninsula, the heel of Italy's famous boot shape, you will visit the town of Lecce for a half-day walking tour of what many call the Florence of the South. As you stroll along the stone-lined streets and in the shadows of Baroque churches, the laid-back charm of the city will be hard to avoid as you visit the Puglian town that time forgot.

With visions of the stunning architecture of Lecce still swimming around your head, it may take the heady scent of an Italian espresso to finally pull you from the comfort of your cozy accommodation. You will have only a few moments left to saunter through the city center or take in the seaside views of the Adriatic before your transfer arrives at your hotel to convey you to the airport.